You may be may have access to to compensation depending on where you flew, how long the delay was, and why it happened
Flight delay compensation is not automatic—it depends on the airline, the route, and the reason for the delay. In the United States, the Department of Transportation does not require airlines to pay you money for delays, though they must follow rules about meals, hotels, and rebooking. In Europe, the UK, Canada, and Australia, the rules are much stricter: airlines must pay you a set amount if the delay was their fault and exceeded a certain length.
The key question is whether the delay was caused by something the airline controlled (maintenance, crew scheduling, mechanical issues they knew about) or something they did not (severe weather, air traffic control problems, security threats). That distinction determines whether you have a claim and where you can make it.
Key Takeaways
- US airlines must provide meals, hotels, and rebooking but do not have to pay cash compensation for delays under federal law.
- European, UK, Canadian, and Australian airlines must pay €250 to €600 (or equivalent) for delays over three hours caused by airline fault.
- Compensation claims require proof of the flight, the delay length, and documentation that the airline caused it, not weather or air traffic control.
- Most airlines deny first claims; you may need to file with a government transport regulator or use a claims company to recover money.
US domestic and outbound flights: what airlines must provide
The US Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide meals, hotel rooms, and ground transportation if your flight is delayed more than a few hours and the airline caused it. They do not require cash compensation. The airline must rebook you on the next available flight at no cost, and if you choose to cancel, they must refund your ticket.
If the airline refuses to provide meals or a hotel, you can file a complaint with the Department of Transportation. Keep receipts for any food or transportation you buy out of pocket—some airlines will reimburse you if you ask in writing within 30 days, though they are not legally required to. The airline's contract of carriage (the fine print on your ticket) may offer more than the law requires, so check your confirmation email.
European flights: fixed compensation amounts
If you flew on an EU airline, or any airline departing from an EU airport, EU Regulation 261/2004 applies. The airline must pay you €250, €400, or €600 depending on the flight distance, if the delay was three hours or more at your final destination and the airline caused it. This applies even if you booked through a third party or budget airline.
The airline can refuse to pay only if they prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control—severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security threats, or bird strikes. Mechanical failures, crew problems, and fuel issues do not count as extraordinary circumstances, even if they were unexpected.
You can claim directly from the airline by sending a letter with your booking reference, flight details, and proof of the delay. If they refuse, you can file a complaint with your national aviation authority (in the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority; in France, the DGAC; in Germany, the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt). Many people use a claims company instead, which handles the paperwork but takes a percentage of the payout.
UK flights: similar rules with a different regulator
The UK retained EU compensation rules after leaving the European Union. If you flew on a UK airline or from a UK airport, you may claim £130 to £520 depending on distance, for delays of three hours or more caused by airline fault. The rules and extraordinary circumstances exceptions are the same as the EU system.
Claims go to the airline first, then to the Civil Aviation Authority if the airline refuses. The process is the same as the EU: send a letter with your booking reference and proof of delay, and expect a response in four to eight weeks.
Canadian and Australian flights: distance-based compensation
Canada's Air Passenger Rights require airlines to pay $400 to $2,400 CAD for delays over three hours on flights within North America, depending on distance. The airline must also provide meals and accommodation. Extraordinary circumstances (weather, security, air traffic control) are exceptions.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires compensation of $200 to $1,400 AUD for delays over three hours, with the same exceptions. Both countries have government bodies that handle complaints if the airline refuses to pay.
How to document your claim and gather proof
To claim compensation, you need your booking reference, the flight number, the scheduled and actual arrival times, and proof that the delay was the airline's fault. Your boarding pass and airline confirmation email provide the booking reference and flight number. The airline's website or a call to customer service can confirm the actual arrival time.
Proof that the airline caused the delay is harder. Airlines rarely admit fault in writing. Instead, look for statements in the airline's own communications: if they said "mechanical issue" or "crew scheduling problem" in an email or text, that is evidence. If they said "weather" or "air traffic control," that is not. Flight tracking websites like FlightRadar24 can show whether the aircraft arrived late from a previous flight (suggesting a crew or maintenance issue) or whether the delay happened on the ground.
Keep all emails, texts, boarding passes, and receipts for meals or hotels you paid for. Take screenshots of the airline's website showing the delay if you can. The more documentation you have, the harder it is for the airline to deny your claim.
Filing a claim directly with the airline
Send a letter or email to the airline's customer relations department with your booking reference, flight details, the delay length, and a request for compensation under the relevant regulation (EU 261/2004, UK Air Passenger Rights, Canadian Air Passenger Rights, or Australian CASA rules). Include copies of your boarding pass and confirmation email. Do not send originals.
The airline has 30 to 60 days to respond, depending on the country. Many airlines deny first claims by saying the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances or by claiming they have no record of the delay. If they deny your claim, you can escalate to the government regulator or use a claims company.
Some airlines have online claim forms on their website. These are faster than letters, but keep a copy of what you submit. If the airline offers a voucher or travel credit instead of cash, you can refuse it and insist on the cash compensation you are may have access to to.
Using a claims company versus filing yourself
Claims companies handle the paperwork and negotiation with the airline in exchange for 20 to 30 percent of the payout. They are useful if you do not want to spend time on letters and phone calls, or if the airline is ignoring you. They have relationships with airlines and know which ones are likely to pay without escalation.
Filing yourself costs nothing but takes time. You write one letter, send it, and wait. If the airline refuses, you then file with the regulator, which takes another month or two. If you have multiple delayed flights or a large group, a claims company can be worth the fee. If you have one flight and the airline's own website shows the delay clearly, filing yourself is faster.
Check whether the claims company is registered with the regulator in your country. In the UK, check the Civil Aviation Authority's list. In the EU, check your national aviation authority. Avoid companies that may provide a payout or charge upfront fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim compensation if the airline rebooked me on another flight the same day?
Yes. Compensation is based on how late you arrived at your final destination, not how quickly the airline rebooked you. If you arrived more than three hours late, you may claim, even if the airline got you on another flight within an hour.
What if the airline says the delay was weather and I cannot prove otherwise?
Weather is an extraordinary circumstance, so the airline does not have to pay. However, if the airline's own communications (emails, texts, website updates) said something else—mechanical issue, crew problem, fuel—you can use that as evidence. If the airline said nothing and you have no proof of what caused the delay, your claim is weak.
Do I have to accept a voucher or travel credit instead of cash?
No. You are may have access to to cash compensation under the regulations. If the airline offers a voucher, you can refuse it and insist on the cash amount. Some airlines will not pay cash unless you refuse the voucher first, so be clear in writing that you want money, not a credit.
How long do I have to file a claim after the flight?
In the EU and UK, you have six years from the flight date. In Canada, you have two years. In Australia, you have six years. In the US, there is no federal time limit, but your airline's contract of carriage may set one. File as soon as you have your documentation, because delays make it harder to prove what happened.
Can I claim if I booked through a travel agent or third-party website?
Yes. The airline is responsible for compensation, not the booking agent. Use your booking reference and the airline's name to file your claim directly with the airline, even if you bought the ticket through Expedia, a travel agent, or a budget booking site.